Industrial truck



Nov. 10, 1931.

R. T. RoMlNE ET AL INDUSTRIAL TRUCK 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed June 8.192'/l @www .INN

Nov. 10, 1931. R. T. RoMlNE ET AL INDUSTRIAL TRUCK Filed Jime 8. 1927 5Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 10, 1931.

R. T. RoMlNE E'TAL;

INDUSTRIAL TRUCK 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 8. 1927 Nkvm . InventorNov. 1Q, 1931. RfT. ROMIN'E ETAL 1,831,140

INDUSTRIAL TRUCK Filed June e. 1927 5 sheets-sheet 4 R 'vvenorsg LU HZto rn e ys.

Nov. 10, 1931. R. T. ROMINE ET AL 1,831,140

INDUSTRIAL TRUCK Filed June 8. 1927Y 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 l Ifzveofs: gm atMSWI-mv. gtglarneys.

Patent-ed Nev. 1o, 1931A UNITED :STAT

EIS PATENT OFFICE( ROBERT T. Romina, or MOUNT oLEMnNs, Ann JAY RWARRENAND ERNEST w. ys rs- TROM, 0F DETROIT, MICHlG-AN; SAID WARREN AND SAIDSYSTROM ASSIGNQRS TQ SAID ROMINE p l INDUSTRIAL TRUCK Application viledJune 8, 1927. vSerial Nuo. 197,455.

This invention relates tov power drivenI lift trucks and has for anobject the provlsion vof a lift truck having a pair of forwardlyprojecting low mounted lift or load elevating platforms capable of beingmoved into y position to straddle a load, lift the same and transport itto destination.

Another object of the invention is to provide a truck of the foregoingconstruction A forms in order to steer the truck on a short' which iscapable of lifting and transporting the truck'is passing. over anvunevensurface.

heavy loads, such as five or more tons, and

in which the truck is provided with relatively Small wide tread wheelsbeneath the spaced klift platforms capable of distributing the load,`such wheels being preferably dirigible wherebythe truck may be turned ona relaline 12-12 of Fig. 2. v

freight car or in facv A further object is -to provide a power' drivenlift truck havinga pair of forwardly vprojecting relatively'narrow li-ftplatforms eachsupprted by 4means of longitudinally spaced loadsupporting wheels of small diameter to permit relative verticalarticulation beneath the liftI platforms, and in which the load yvheelsare capable of beingy turned substantlally within the area ofV the liftplatturning radius. p

Other objects of the invention will appear in the following descriptionand appended claims, reference being had to fthe accompanyingdrawingsforming a part of this specication wherein like Jreference charactersdesignate corresponding parts in the several views.

In said drawings:

Fig.' 1 is a top plan v'iew of the truck -of our invention. p

Fig. 2 is a side elevation ofthe truck of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic plan view showing the manner in which the loadcarrying wheels and driving wheels are steered.k

Fig. 4 is aside elevation offour improved truck partly broken awayshowing the lifting mechanism .for the. elevating platforms. Fig. 5 isa. view similar to Fig. 4 showing the action of the sub-frame structurewhen Fig.l 6 is aside elevation of our improved truck supporting a load.n l

Fig. 7 is an end elevation of the construction shown in Fig. 6 lookingtoward the' right.

Fig. 8 isa detail perspective of one'of the Vplatform and load engagingdevices.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 7 illustrati ing the adj ustabilityofthe load lifting-devices or d ogs.

` Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the steering of the ltruckin the aisles of a factory.

Fig. 11'is a section along the line 11e-1:1 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken alongthe Before explaining in detailthe present invention, andthe method ormode of opera-- tion embodiedtherein, itV is to be understood that the invention is not limited linits .application tocthe details of construction anding practiced orcarried out in various ways.

Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminologyemployed herein is for fthe purpose of description and not oflimitation, and yit is not intended to limit the "invention beyond theterms of the several claims hereto appended or the requirements of theprior art.- l I The truck f our inventifon=is particularly applicable tothe handling and transportand turned therein'so that .the spaced liftplatforms of the truck may be introduced at s. ing of relatively heavyunitary packs or f` opposite longitudinal sides inorder to straddle apack or unit to be removed from the i car, which .removal may beaccomplished by the truck without the necessity of employing auxiliarymeans, such for example'as a .stack lifter or portable crane of thecharaci ter shown and described in Patent 1,745,046, dated January 28,1930, in the name of one ofthe inventors hereto, for placing the unit inposition upon the truck or for removing such unit from the truck anddepositing it upon the freight car floor, or elsewhere. In

y practice, relatively heavy bundles or packs of metal or the like maybe loaded into a freight car or unloaded therefrom with -a minimum oflabor and time.

rlhe present improved truck comprises in general a frame having at itsrear end an upright housingifor supporting the motors,

battery and control mechanism. Beneath this housing are mounted a pairof driving wheels. The frame at its forward end is bifurcated to providetwo narrow parallel spaced arms adjacent' the ground. A narrow liftplatform surmounts each forked frame arm, andthe lift platformsarespaced the maximum distance-to accommodate loads of varying widths.Beneath eacharm of .the frame are preferably located a pair oflongitudinally spaced load wheels of small diameter and wide tread to.distribute the load. rIfhese wheels are preferably mounted to turnsubstantially within the area of the frame arm on independent axes, andare preferably mounted on a sub-frame member to perand enabling it to beoperated safely on factory floors. v

'Referring to the drawings wherein we have illustrated a presentpreferred form of `our invention, the truck comprises a relatively'lowchassis or frame bifurcated at its forward end to provide spacedlengthwise extending frame members or arms 15 each of which comprises apairof spaced structural steel members preferably in the form of anglebars llhaving'finwardly extending hrizontal flanges 16a` and dependingflanges 1 b. A longitudinally extending metal plate 17 is mounted uponthe flangesk 16a and secured thereto by means'of rivets or the like 18to connect the bars together. The truck is provided atits rear end witha pair of `driving wheels 19 mounted on the chassis.

Extending upwardly from the rear end of the chassis 15is a suitablehousing or frame structure designated in general at 20 forming aplatform support for a 'housing or casing 21 within which are carriedthe batteries for the motor. A motor `22 is supported beneath thebattery casing or housing 21 and is connected by mechanism hereinafterdescribed, to the driving wheels 19 for thepurpose of driving the same.

A narrow load elevating or lift platform 23 extends forwardly vfrom apoint adjacent the housing 21 above each of the franie members or arms15. Each platform 23 comprises a pair of longitudinally extending anglebars 23a having depending flanges and inwardly extending flanges whichoverliethe lplate 17. 1n order to connect the angle bars 23a togetherand to provide a top sur- -face for each elevatingplatform, we promeansof links or brackets 24;' the ends of which are mounted upon pins 25 and26 carried by the elevating platforms and frame members, respectively.The rear end of each load elevating. platform 23 is connected to itsrespective frame member by means of a link or bracket 27 connectedatopposite ends with the elevating platform and frame member by means ofpins 28 and 29. The plate 17 of eachframe member 15 is provided adjacentits inner end witha slot or opening 17a to permit the link or bracket 27to project upwardlytherethrough when the ele--Y vating platform 23 islifted, as shown in Figs. aand 5. In order to allow the pair ofplatforms 23 to be lifted simultaneously, a transverseangle bar or thelike 30 is connected to therear end of eachrplatform.

The plat- Suitable mechanism is provided for rais-I. ing or elevatingthe lift platforms 23, `which is adapted to`4 bel operated by anelectric motor 38 positioned within the housing 21. The mechanismcomprises, preferably, a bracket 31 carried by the transverseangle 30 towhich is pivotally connected by means of a pin 32 a threaded rod or ram33. Mounted upon the ram is a worm gear 34, the hub of which comprises anut .engaging the threads formed on the rod or ram They worm gear 34 ispreferably driven by a Worm 35 which is mounted upon the shaft 36 oftheelectric motor. The motor is` electrically connected to one of thebatteries within the housing 21 and is adapted to. be controlled bysuitable mechanism at the rear or operators end 40 of the truck.l

It will be seen that when the rod -or ram 33 is retracted or drawnupwardly by operating the electric motor, the elevating platforms'willbe raised simultaneously from the positions in which they are shown inFigs.

1V and 2 to the position of Figs. 4 and 5. A housing 37 supports themot-or 38 and encloses the worm gear 34 and the worm 35.

i 2 and 12).

\ mounted beneath one of the fixed fra-me mem- This housing is pivotedupon a-bracket 39 to permit swinging movement upon lifting or, loweringthe load elevating platforms.

The truck is propelled by means of the motor 22 which is operativelyconnected with the driving wheels 19. j

Beneath each of the spaced elevating platforms 23 and connected with theframe sills or arms'15, is a rocking sub-frame 41 which in the presentinstance is in the form o-f a casting having a reduced central portionand being open at oppositeends to permit convenient access to theinterior thereof. The side walls of each sub-frame member 41 areprovided with a depending portion 41a (Figs. Each sub-frame is pivotallybers or sills and is capable of vertical rocking movement orarticulation with respect to plates 42 are secured at their upperportions to the inner faces of the depending flanges 165 by means ofrivets or the like 43. The subframe member 41 is pivotally connected tothe lower ends of the brackets 42 by means of a short rock shaft 44 heldin position by means of a sleeve 45 pinned at 46 to the shaft:

Each sub-frame member preferably carries a pair of longitudinally spacedload carrying wheels 47 and 47a of relatively small diameter andprovided with wide tire treads to distribute the load and permit easysteering. In the present instance each .load wheel is dirigible and isprovided with a caster mounting to permitthe entire wheel structure andits steering mechanism to be mounted within the width of the narrowsills'or frame arms 15 and also to enable the load to be transmitted atall times through the vertical axis ofturning of the wheel. Each loadwheel 47 and 47a is mounted in thesame manner. This 'constructioncomprises a 'forked carrier or bracket 48 provided with a verticallyextending pin or pintle 49 projecting through a bushing 50 at the lowerpart of the sub-frame member '41. Interposed between each carrier 48 andthe base of thel sub-frame member 41 is a ball bearing race having ballbearings 51. An annular plate or ring 52 is secured to the upwardlyprojecting portion of the pintle within the sub-frame casting and isprovided with a ball race-or recess on its under surface to maintain aseries of ball bearings 53 in place between it and the casting (Fig.11).

Secured to the upper end of each pintle is a Worm wheel 54 which is heldin position by a nut 55 which is threaded onto the upper end of thepintle.

Each sub-frame casting is provided inte-riorly thereof with a pair oflongitudinally spaced brackets or fixed bear-ings 56 which connectedwith another shaft 61 through the medium of a slide bearing or sleeve62. The inner end of the shaft 61 is connected to a shaft 63 through themedium of a coupling or universal joint 64. 4 The shaft 63 is carried bya fixed bearing 65 (Fig. 5)' mounted upon the frame work of the truckand car- 'ricsat'it'sinner end. abevel gear 66 "forming a part of thegear train and shafts positioned beneath the truck frame 20. The purposeof providing the universal joints 59 and 64 and the slide bearing orsleeve 62 is to maintain the several shafts 57 60, 61 and 63interconnected in operative relation when the subfra'me structure rocksor articulates as shown in Fig. 5.

Supported by the frame work' of the truck beneath the housing 21 is thesteering mechanism for simultaneously steering the pairs of load wheels47 and 47 a and also the driving wheels 19. As will be seen in Fig. 3the bevel gear 66 at the right hand side of the truck is in mesh with asimilar gear 67 carried upon the outer end of a transverse rotaryshaftf68. The left hand bevel gear 66 is in mesh with a bevel 69 carriedby a relatively short horizontal rotar shaft 70. yUpon the inner opposedlends o the shafts 68 and 70 are bevel gears 71 and 72 -respectivelywhich gears are of somewhat greater diameter than the bevel gears 66, 67and 69. The gears 71 and 72 are in mesh with a smaller'bcvcl gear 73carried upon the outer end of a longitudinal shaft 74. Upon the innerend of the shaft 74 there is mounted a similar bevel gear 75 which inturn is in mesh with a bevel gear 76 carried upon the lower end of avertically extending shaft 77 (Figs. 2 and 3). Mounted upon the upperend of the shaft 77 is another bevel gear 78 which gear meshes with abevel gear 79 carried upon a relatively short horizontal shaft 80 havingat its opposite end another bevel gear 81 which is in mesh with asimilar bevel gear 82 mounted upon a short vertical shaft- 83 whichcarries at its upper end a steering wheel 84. It will be understood thatthe several shafts referred to are each supported by suitable bearingsor brackets (not shown) carried by the frame Work of the truck. It willbe understood from the foregoing that when the operato-r turns thesteering wheel 84, the several wheels 47 and 47 a may be turned orsteered through the 4 medium of the shafts and train of gearing referredto.

In order to steer the driving wheels 19 simultaneously with the loadwheels, we provide steering mechanism which Iis likewise controlled bythe steering wheel ,84.* This mechanism is best shown in Figs. 1 to 3inclusive and comprises', preferably, a gear Wheel mounted upon theshaft 77 above the bevel gear 76 (Fig. 2) which gear is-in mesh with alarg-er gear 86 mounted upon a shaft 87 extending vertically and inparallelism to the shaft 77. Secured to the under `ide of the gea-r 86is an annular disk or plate 88 to which is connected through the mediumof a pin an arm 89`pivotally connected at its outer end with an offsetarm 91 of a steering arm 90 which is connected with the driving wheel 91through the medium of a steering knuckle 19a. A steering arm 92 isconnected with the steering knuckle 19a of the steering wheel 19 attheopposite side of the truck and the two steering arms90 and 92 areinterconnected by means of a transverse rod or link 93". It will be seentherefore that when the steering wheel 84 is rotated in one direction,the driving wheels 19 will be turned as shown in Fig. 3 while at thesame time such rotation of the steering wheel 84 will'cause the severalload wheels 47 and 47a to be turned thereby effecting a turning movementofall the wheels about a common center or locus point 94, Figs. 3 and10. The

turning center 94 at'all times lies substan' tially on an imaginary line95 extending at right angles to the central longitudinal axis 96 `of thetruck, and this locus line 95 extends intermediate the normal axes 'ofthe driving wheels 19 and the load wheels 47, 47a, .and as a result ofthis construction an extremely short turning radius may be obtained, asshown in Fig. 1'0.

It will be particularly noted that bymount! ing the load carrying wheels47 and 47a upon to he lifted and transported by the truck vis restingupon an uneven surface, or tocompensate for variations' in the height ofload enggging devices at opposite sides of the loa( In Figs. '6 to 9inclusive is illustrated .a method of handling packs or bundles o-f mafterial, such as bound packs of sheet metal, for the purpose of loadingor unloading `freight cars. The pack is handled by moving the Vspacedlift platforms into position to straddle opposite sides of the pack, andthrough the medium of adjustable brackets or lifting dogs` detachablyconnected to the pack, the latter may be lifted and transported. In thepresent embodiment the lifting vdevices or dogs are particularly adaptedfor use in connection with the lifting and sup porting of bound packs ofmetal such for example as the pack S shown in Figs.` 6, 7 and. 9.- Theconstituent sheets of the pack S are bound together into a unit by meansof binders B, the pack4 being provided on. its under side with apalletiP. The. pack;

binders and pallet are substantiallylike those shown and described inaco-pending application Serial No. 137,867 filed September 27, 1926, inthe name of one ofthe -inventors hereto. As fully disclosed in saidco-pending application, the binders Beach comprises f spaced metal barsB1 which kare secured together in spaced relation by lmeans of sleevesB2 and bolts and nuts B3.

Each bracket or lifting dog comprisesff preferably, a channel bar 100having a base.4 or web portion 100e and verticalupstanding flanges 1005.rIhe inner ends of the flanges 1006 are provided with aligned apertureswhich are adapted to receive any one of the likewise provided at vtheirfree ends with,105

apertures adapted to receive another of the connecting boltsy B3 of thebinder.

In practice, after the truck has been propelled into position so thatthe lift platforms 23 thereof' will straddle a bound pack to be liftedand transported by the truck, the channel members of the brackets areconnected with the vertical bars B1 of the binders so that theundersurface of the channel will rest upon the top surface of the liftplatform 23, or at least be in close proximity thereto and'overlie thesame. have been thus connected with the binders, the free apertured endsof the members 102 i are swung into position to straddle the membersB1, whereupon one of thebolts B8 is inserted through the alignedapertures anda nut applied thereto tomaintain the members in xedrelation. It'will be seen, Figs.

7 to 9 inclusive, that when the lifting brack` ets are connected withthe binders, the channels. 100 are positioned at right vangles to thevertical sides ofthe binders. Where the After the channels holes BBprovided in the binder members Blvare in such positions that 4thebrackets and opposite ends of the binder can be po-V y'sitioned in thesame transverse plane as shown in Fig. 7, the. adjustment screws 101 arenot employed, although these screws are i preferably maintained inposition inthe web portion 100a at all times. Where, however, theapertures BB in the vertical members B1 of the binders at opposite sidesof thev l pack are'not in the same relative positions range the bracketsin position upoii the binders at opposite sides of the pack in differentlhorizontal planes in order that the pack may be lifted by the truckwithout the necessity of moving the pack to a strictly verticalpositionbetween the lift platforms 23.

After the brackets have been adjusted as shown in either of Figs.l 7 or9, the lifting mechanism is operated to elevate the platforms `23,whereupon the bound pack and its pallet are lifted from the ground asshown in Figs. 6, 7 .and 9, and is then in readiness to be transportedbythe truck. I f

. By employing a forky truck such as that embodied in this application,it is possible to load bound packs of'metal or the like in freight carsby simply causing the lift platforms of the truck to straddle the pack,:at-

taching the brackets or lifting dogs to the binders of the packand-.thereafter lifting the p-latforms 23v to remove the'pack from theground.4 When thus supported by the y truck, the truck may be" propelledinto the freight car and steered into the proper position for' unloadinthe pack. The bound pack is then deposited upon the floor ofthe freightcar, the brackets removed `from the binders, and the truck propelled outfrom l the car. It will be understood also thatsubstantially the reverseoperation will be employed to remove loads such as bound packs orbundles of metal from a freight car.

Referring to the above mentioned co-pending application it will benotedthat the packs of metal are arranged for transit on the freight carfloor with aisle spaces at opposite 'sides of each pack. The presenttruck is A so constructed that the narrow lift platforms thereof may beintroduced in such aisle spaces to straddle the pack. These lift'platforms are of suiiicient handle packs pf maximum and minimumlengths, while at the same time they are supi ported by loadwheelscapable of widely distributing the load on the car iioor. The loadwheels lie within the width of the lift platlength to.`

forms, so that ythe wheels will be accommodated within the aisle spaces.Furthermore the steering construction is such that the truck may bepropelled through the car door- ,way and turnedl within the carsuiiciently to permit the forked lift platforms to be introduced ,atopposite -sides of a pack. on the car floor. What we claim is; f l 1.-In an industrial power driven truck, a. frame comprising a main endportion anda pair of laterally spaced load supporting por-v tionsextending from one end of said mainY portion adjacent the ground,whereby they can be positioned at opposite sides of a load to betransported by the truck,- power driven ground wheels supporting themain end portion of the frame, and dirigible load support ing Wheelsmounted beneath each of said laterally spaced frame members within *thewidth thereof.

2. In an industrial power driven truck," av frame comprising amainendportion anda'y pair of laterally spacedload supporting p0rf tionsextending ,from one end of said main portion adjacent theground,"whereby they` can be positioned at opposite sides' of a load tobe transported by the truck, power driven ground wheels supporting themain end portion of the frame, a dirigible load supporting wheel mountedbeneath each of the laterally spaced frameportions and wholly betweenthe vertical planes of the side faces of said frame portions, andsteering mechanism for :said load supporting wheels carried by thelaterally spaced frame members between lthe opposite side edgesthereof.y

3. In an industrial power driven truck, a

frame comprising a main end portion anda pair of-laterally spaced loadsupporting portions extending from one end of said main portion adjacentthe ground, whereby they can loe positioned at opposite sides of a loadto be transported by the truck, power driven ground wheels supportingthe main end por-110 tion of thel frame, a load supporting wheelvbeneath each of said laterally spaced frame portions and whollybetweenthe vertical planes of the side faces of said frame lportions, aworm connected with the support of about 'a vertical axis, andmeanscontrolled from the main-end portion of the frame for simultaneouslyactuating all of said worms.-

' 4. Inan industrial power driven truck, a'. frame comprising a main.endportion and a pair of laterally spacedload supporting portionsextendingffrom one end of said main .portion ad]acent the ground,whereby they can be "positioned at opposite sides `of a load toY betransported by the truck, powerA driven ground wheels supporting themain end portion of the frame, anda'pair of load supporting wheelsbeneath each ofl said laterally spaced frame portions, the members ofeach each of the last said wheels and rotatable v `to ybe transported bythe truck, power driven ground wheels supportingthe main end portion ofthe frame, and a pair of load supporting wheels beneath each of saidlaterally spaced frame portions, the members of each` pair of saidwheels being arranged in tandem relation andVv between the verticallanes of the sides of the frame portions, eac pair of wheels beinadapted to rock about a horizontal axis` an the members of each pairbeing independently rotatable about vertical axes.

6. In an industrial power driven truck, a frame comprising a main endportion and a pair of laterally spaced load supporting portionsextending from one end of said main portion adjacent the ground, wherebythey can be positioned at opposite sides of a load to be transported bythe truck, power driven ground wheels supporting the main end portion ofthe frame, and a .pair of load supporting wheels beneath each of saidlaterally spaced frameportions, the members of each pair of said wheelsbeing arranged in tandem relation and between the vertical planes of thesides of the frame portions, each pair of wheels being adapted to rockabout a hori- Zontal axis located between the wheels of said pair andthe members of each pair being independently rotatable about verticalaxes.

7. In an industrial power driven truck, a frame comprising a main endportion and a pair of laterally spaced load supporting portionsextending from one'end of said main portion adjacent the ground, wherebythey canbe positioned at opposite sides of a load to be transported bythe truck, power driven ground wheels supporting the main end portion ofthe frame, a support depending from each of' the laterally spaced frameportions, a sub-frame pivotally connected to each depending support torock about a horizontal axis, and load supporting wheels carried by eachsub-frame at opposite sides of said axis and each independently movableabout a vertical axis.D

8. In an industrial power driven truck, a frame comprising a main endportion and a pair of laterally spaced load supporting portionsextending from one end of said main portion adjacent the ground, wherebythey can be positioned at opposite sides of aA load tobe transported bythe truck, a bracket-like support depending from each of the laterallyLasn14o spaced frame portions, a sub-frame connected to each saidbracket to, rock about a horizontal axis beneath the frame portion, andtwo load supporting wheels mounted in each subframe at opposite sides ofsaid axis and each independently movable about a vertical axis.

9. In an industrial power driven truck, a frame comprising al main endportion and a pair of laterally. spaced load supporting portionsextending rom one end of said main portion adjacent the ground, wherebythey can be positioned at opposite sides of a load to be transported bythe truck, power driven ground wheels supporting the main end portionofthe frame and movable about vertical axes, dirigible load supportingwheels mounted beneath and within the width of each of the laterallyspaced frame members, and means controlled from the main end portion ofthe frame for turning all of said pair of laterally spaced loadsupporting porn tions extending from one end of said main portionadjacent the ground, whereby they can be positioned at opposite sides ofa load to be transported by the truck, each of said laterally spacedportions having a downwardly facing channel, a bracket supported in eachdownwardly facing channel in each of the laterally spaced frame members,and depending from said frame, a sub-frame connected to each saidbracket to rock about a horizontal axis, and a pair ofload supportingwheels arranged yin tandem relation in each sub-frame, at opposite sidesof said horizontal axis, each said wheel being independently movableabout a vertical axis. l

In testimony whereof we aiiix our signatures.

ROBERT T. ROMINE. JAY F. WARREN. ERNEST W. SYSTROM.

